Stranger Things and Intertextuality

 Intertextuality is the interconnection between similar/related works that reflect and influence an audience's interpretation of the media product; this is completed through the reference or inclusion of another workpiece. This also develops meaning for the viewers as it adds representations that the creators wish to portray. In regards to Stranger Things, the TV series can be considered as a pastiche product because it imitates the style of both Spielberg's family adventure films and Steven King's science-fiction horrors. Because of this, the entire TV show can also be considered as an homage to the nostalgia of the 80s hence why it is so successful for both young and old audiences.

Jenkins and fandom can be applied here because the show acknowledges the huge significance of popular culture for today's audience - "The practices of fandom have become increasingly enmeshed with the rhythms and temporalities of broadcasting." The references included appeals to the digital, modern audiences as they enjoy spotting them. Examples include references to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial when Eleven walked out of the room dressed up and wearing a wig, or when Will went out to his back garden to the shed at night time.

This intertextual reference highlights the representation of Eleven's vulnerability as it portrays the theme of 'fearing the unknown' and also highlights that she is Mike's, Dustin's, and Lucas's responsibility now as they have to protect her from the government and look after her. Although it may seem subtle, the use of visual homage and specific character stereotypes (where she is vulnerable and different from the rest of society) is an allusion to the film E.T. within the narrative of the show - it seems more likely to be explicit intertextuality.

E.T. appears to be a favored allusion in regards to intertextual references from the beginning of the first episode of season 1 as the group of boys were playing Dungeons and Dragons whilst eating pizza similar to how Elliot and his brother and friends were at the beginning of the film. However this flows into another, but more subtle intertextual reference to the Goonies as the boys (except for Mike) cycle through the streets on the way to their homes in a very similar fashion and street to how the Goonies had done. This implies that the TV show will include an adventure of some sort to uncover mysteries & secrets and that we as the audience will travel will them - creating a sense of nostalgia. This can be applied to Neale's genre theory due to the repetition of 80s Spielbergian family adventure codes and conventions within the media product.